Embedded Systems

Embedded system was first used in “Building Apollo Guidance System” by Charles Stark Draper at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in the year 1960; it is one of the modern embedded systems, which is used for navigation and control of the respective crafts. Usage of the Apollo Guidance System is a risk because it is developed by using a keypad and numeric display. It was frequently used and refined in a lot of NASA’s space missions. Then, the Autonetics D-17 Guidance Computer has come for the Minuteman Missile- an ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) is used by the United States Air Force. Let’s look at an overview of the advanced embedded system basics and applications. [Read more…]

Matrix Keypad

Most of the applications of embedded systems require keypads to take the user inputs, especially in case where an application requires more number of keys. With simple architecture and easy interfacing procedure, matrix keypads are replacing normal push-buttons by offering more inputs to the user with the lesser I/O pins. As a Human Machine Interface (HMI) keypad plays a major role in vital microprocessor and microcontroller based projects and equipments. Therefore, this article gives you a brief idea on matrix keypad interfacing with 8051 microcontroller. [Read more…]

Traffic Light Control

Traffic lights were first invented in the year 1868 at London’s House of Commons where traffic light signals were placed at intersections of George and Bridge Street. Later the traffic lights were developed in the year 1914 by an American Traffic Signal Company, which fixed green and red lights at corners of the 105th street and Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio. During this period traffic lights were controlled either by timing or by switching manually. [Read more…]

Boot-loader is a program that runs in the microcontroller that has to be programmed. To load a program into memory, you must first load a program into memory. In some cases, it will be the earliest point at which the integrity of an embedded systems can be checked. [Read more…]

Automobiles

An embedded system is an electronic or computer system which is designed to control, access the data in electronics based systems. This system includes a single chip microcontroller such as cortex, ARM and also microprocessors, FPGAs, DSPs, and ASICs. Nowadays the usage of embedded systems is widespread. But the software that is programmed into the microcontroller is capable of solving only a limited range of problems. [Read more…]

Finger Print Authentication

The advent of fast growing technologies makes users to have high security systems with electronic identification options. These identification technologies include ATM and other intelligent cards, user IDsand password based systems, and so on.But,unfortunately these are unsecure due to hacker attacks, thefts, and forgotten passwords.In spite of all these shortcomings and malfunctions these systems are still prevailing; however, the biometric or fingerprint authentication based identification is the most efficient and reliable solution for stringent security. [Read more…]

The Basic requirement of security can be achieved by designing electrical or mechanical locks that are designed with one or a few keys, but for locking a big area many locks are required. Basically traditional locks are heavy and are not protective as they can be broken down easily by using some tools. Electronic locking systems are preferable over mechanical locks, to resolve the security problems that are associated with the mechanical locks. [Read more…]